 Letter
from Bishop William E. Lori to be read at all Masses,
May 30-31, 2009: English and Spanish
State
Legislator Contact Information
BRIDGEPORT, Friday, May 29, 2009,
3:00 p.m. – In United States
District Court today, attorneys representing the Roman Catholic Diocese
of Bridgeport filed a lawsuit against officials of the State of Connecticut
Office of State Ethics (OSE), seeking a court order to stop them from
an unconstitutional application of state lobbying laws.
These officials are requiring the Diocese – and presumably
all other organizations – to register as a lobbyist in order
to engage in activities such as a rally at the State Capitol or
using its website to encourage its members to contact their elected
representatives. Application of the law in this manner would subject
the First Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion,
and Freedom of Assembly to government oversight and penalties.
First Amendment Response
Bishop William E. Lori stated today, "Following
the surprise introduction of
Bill
1098, a proposal that singled
out Catholic parishes and would have forced them to reorganize
contrary to Church law and the First Amendment, our Diocese
responded in the most natural, spontaneous, and frankly,
American, of ways: we alerted our membership – in person and through
our website; we encouraged them to exercise their free speech
by contacting their elected representatives; and, we organized
a rally at the State Capitol. How can this possibly be called
lobbying?"
"This cannot possibly be what our
Legislature had in mind when it sought to bring more transparency
and oversight to a legislative process that has been corrupted
by special interests and back-room deals. If it is, then it should
shock the conscience of all citizens of the Constitution State,"
Bishop Lori added.
Background
On April 23, 2009, the Diocese received
a letter from Thomas K. Jones, Ethics Enforcement Officer
for the OSE, stating that it was "the subject of an Office
of State Ethics evaluation," which was "being conducted to
ascertain whether the Diocese had violated [Connecticut General
Statutes Sections] 1-94, 1-95 and 1-96 by failing to register
as a lobbyist in Connecticut, by failing to submit all other
appropriate lobbyist filings, and by failing to follow all
applicable registration procedures."
The OSE claims the Diocese acted
as a "lobbyist" by: participating in a March 11, 2009, State
Capitol rally against Raised Bill 1098 (the unconstitutional
attempt to reorganize Catholic parishes contrary to Catholic
teaching and tradition); making statements on its website urging its
members to contact their elected representatives to oppose Raised
Bill 1098; and making statements on its website urging its members
to contact their legislators to oppose another bill, Raised Bill 899
(regarding same-sex marriage).
Taking Stands
"I certainly did not consider any of my or the
Diocese’s activities in opposing Raised Bill 1098 and seeking
religious-freedom amendments to Raised Bill 899 to be 'lobbying,'"
Bishop Lori said in an affidavit filed in court today. "In
undertaking those activities, the Diocese was merely defending
itself from unconstitutional interference by the state. The
Diocese was not seeking special treatment or financial advantages
from the Connecticut legislature. Never did I imagine that
our activities defending ourselves from a government attack
on our right of religious self-governance would be met with
another government action subjecting our Church to an ‘evaluation’
for those activities!"
"The Diocese is not a registered lobbyist
and does not devote itself primarily to legislative or political
matters," Bishop Lori continued. "Nonetheless, from time
to time, the Diocese’s religious mission compels me and the
pastors within the Diocese to take stands, consistent with
our religious beliefs, on legislation that concerns the moral
issues of the day, and to urge our parishioners to act on
the basis of Church teachings. We communicate these messages
to our parishioners through the Diocese’s website, in newsletters,
at Mass and other religious services, and through a variety
of other means."
Court Order
The Diocese maintains that a court order barring the OSE
from applying the lobbying laws to the Diocese in this manner
is essential to preserving its First Amendment rights.
"I believe the OSE’s extension of the lobbying
laws to these activities will interfere with the Diocese's
ability to mobilize its members and, if necessary, to urge
them to rally at the Capitol, in the event the General Assembly
again introduces legislation resembling Raised Bill 1098
or otherwise tries to interfere with the internal workings of the
Diocese or its parishes or to attack the Church," Bishop Lori said.
"I believe that an order from the Court barring
Mr. Jones and his colleagues at the OSE from applying the
lobbying laws to the Diocese in this manner is necessary
to enable the Diocese to continue to carry out its mission without
fear of incurring civil penalties, exposure to possible criminal
prosecution, burdensome administrative requirements, and
intrusive oversight by the State," Bishop Lori concluded.
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Civil
Lawsuit Document Downloads
Complaint 5-29-09
Affidavit 5-29-09
Motion 5-29-09
Injunction 5-29-09
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I wish to thank our parishioners and other citizens for their support
of our federal civil rights lawsuit against officials of the Office
of State Ethics.